NFL: Vikings’ Adrian Peterson finds paydirt on first play

NFL MVP goes 78 yards for touchdown on first carry of the season.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson breaks away for a 78-yard touchdown on his first touch in Sunday's season opener against the Lions in Detroit.

By:The Associated Press, Published on Sun Sep 08 2013

DETROIT—Adrian Peterson started the 2013 season in MVP style.

The Minnesota star went 78 yards for a touchdown on the Vikings’ first offensive play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, giving his team a 7-0 lead. Minnesota got the ball on its 22 after the Lions flubbed a field goal attempt. Peterson took a handoff, found an opening up the middle, cut to the right to avoid a tackler and then was able to outrun the secondary all the way to the end zone.

Peterson added a four-yard TD run in the second quarter.

Peterson earned MVP honours last season, when he rushed for 2,097 yards and helped the Vikings reach the playoffs. Only Eric Dickerson, with 2,105 yards in 1984, accumulated more yards rushing in one year.